Under this information collection, the Commission proposes to collect information to determine applicants that will be selected to participate in the rural broadband experiments and whether winning bidders are technically and financially capable of receiving funding for rural broadband experiment projects. To aid in collecting this information regarding the rural broadband experiments, the Commission has created proposed FCC Form 5610 and FCC Form 5620, which applicants will use to apply to participate in the rural broadband experiments. This information will be used to determine which applicants submit the most-cost effective proposals in each funding category and whether winning bidders have the technical and financial qualifications to successfully complete the proposed project within the required timeframes.
The Communications Act of 1934, as amended requires the "preservation and advancement of universal service." The information collection requirements reported under this new collection are the result of various Commission actions to promote the Act's universal service goals, while minimizing waste, fraud, and abuse.
On January 31, 2014, the Commission released an Order et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., FCC 14-5 (Tech Transitions Order and FNPRM) that, among other things, adopted targeted experiments to explore the impact of technology transitions on rural Americans, including those living on Tribal lands, and ensure that, as networks transition, they are not left behind. On July 14, 2014, the Commission released an Order, WC Docket No. 10-90, FCC 14-98 (Rural Broadband Experiments Order), allocating up to $100 million for these experiments and establishing a framework for the application process for parties to participate in the rural broadband experiments and delegating to the Wireline Competition Bureau the authority to determine the details of the application process.
In addition to testing how tailored economic incentives can advance the deployment of next generation networks in rural, high-cost areas of the country, including Tribal lands, the Commission intends to use the rural broadband experiments to examine, on a limited scale, the use of an application-based competitive bidding process with objective selection criteria. The purpose of examining this process is to enable the Commission to test, in a real-world setting, a number of the policies that may be implemented in a competitive bidding mechanism for full-scale implementation in Phase II of the Connect America Fund that will award support in price cap territories where the incumbent declines the offer of model-based support.
Thus, as noted above, the IC requirements under Section 254 are necessary to commence and complete the rural broadband experiment competitive bidding process as soon as possible in order to ensure that the Phase II competitive bidding process begins in a timely fashion and that there is no delay in disbursing the almost $20 billion in funding to increase broadband deployment. Compliance with the normal clearance procedures set forth in 5 C.F.R. § 1320 would delay the implementation of these provisions of Section 254, which might result in unnecessary confusion and delays. Therefore, the Commission is requesting OMB emergency approval by September 19, 2014 to avoid any public harm that will result from applying the normal clearance procedures to these provisions of Section 254.
Under this information collection, the Commission proposes to collect information to determine applicants that will be selected to participate in the rural broadband experiments and whether winning bidders are technically and financially capable of receiving funding for rural broadband experiment projects. To aid in collecting this information regarding the rural broadband experiments, the Commission has created proposed FCC Form 5610 and FCC Form 5620, which applicants will use to apply to participate in the rural broadband experiments. This information will be used to determine which applicants submit the most-cost effective proposals in each funding category and whether winning bidders have the technical and financial qualifications to successfully complete the proposed project within the required timeframes.
The Communications Act of 1934, as amended requires the "preservation and advancement of universal service." The information collection requirements reported under this new collection are the result of various Commission actions to promote the Act's universal service goals, while minimizing waste, fraud, and abuse.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Cheryl Callahan 202 418-2320
Yes
Agency/Sub Agency
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RCF Title
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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form FCC 5620 Post Selection Review of Broadband Experiment Winning Bidders - Government
WCB_XXXX_Connect America Fund et al WC 10-90 14-58 FCC-14-98A1_082514.docx
WCB_XXXX_Rural Broadband Emergency OMB cover letter_082514.pdf
Post Selection Review of Broadband Experiment Winning Bidders - Government